Page 147 of Dirty Rival
“Alone?”
“Yeah, baby. Alone. The holidays are about family and commitment and you know how I felt about those things. I didn’t want anyone seeing anything I did as an invitation to get closer to me.”
Because of his girlfriend’s murder. Because of how much he blamed himself. Because he didn’t want anyone to love him enough to take a bullet for him again. “We had a good Thanksgiving at your sister’s place,” I remind him.
“I’m not running away from family. Not anymore. Not now that I have you. I just want us to have a special first Christmas together. And—”
The line moves forward, and a guard hurries us toward the exit posts, forcing Reid to hold back whatever else he was about to say, but it’s not a subject I’m allowing us to close. I love his sister and I think they need to mend their relationship after years of him pushing her away. They’re getting there, too. They’ve made progress in their relationship, and one thing I know for certain is that he has regrets where she’s concerned. My future husband is damaged in ways I never imagined possible, and I know Cat can’t either. She doesn’t know why he’s acted like an ass and it’s not my place to tell her about the shooting but I believe there are ways that I can help her see that there is more to her brother than meets the eye. He’s not the asshole he made me, or her, believe.
We finally clear customs and Reid drapes his arm around my shoulder. I want to bring up the holiday again, but I decide we have time to talk about this later. Right now, I just want to revel in the fact that not only are we together, we’re getting married. We’re also in Japan to celebrate and complete an absolutely huge deal we’ve closed for Grayson Bennett’s company, which means for our two family firms, as well. Our partnering to close this deal for both companies, is bringing the families together even if our fathers don’t want them to be together.
We’ve just passed through the doors that lead to baggage claim and I’m eager to get out of here. The hotel is calling us. We need to rest and I want to show Reid how much I love my ring properly, preferably without clothes. That goal is suddenly waylaid as an unexpected, but familiar visitor stops in front of us and forces us to halt.
My brother, looking tall, dark and arrogant in one of his outrageously expensive suits, his handsome faces schooled in judgment, stops directly in front of us.
“Anthony,” Reid greets coldly identifying him despite never having met him. He holds me close, making a clear statement: She’s mine and fuck you. And I don’t blame him. Anthony tried to ruin him and us in all kinds of devious ways.
“You,” Anthony says, his green eyes piercing Reid’s. “I didn’t think you’d make it. I thought she’d kick you to the curb.”
“Because you sent me that document that made it seem like he was trying to destroy West Enterprises?” I challenge. “I know the truth behind that document and I mean everything. I went to see dad and he and Stella told me the truth.” I hold up my hand and show him my ring. “Reid and I are getting married. He has been a part of making you a lot of money. Thank him because you owe him and then congratulate us.”
“I owe him all right,” Anthony says, still looking at Reid. “For the hell he put dad through.” His gaze cold and hard, shifts to mine. “Obviously, you don’t need an escort. I’ll leave you to your fiancée.” He turns and walks away.
Reid turns me in his arms and cups my face. “Carrie, baby—”
“I’m okay. It’s okay.” My hands go to his face. “My father pretended to be perfect. Anthony never did. I know what he is. I know who he is, but that’s exactly why I’m worried he’s going to come at you in some way.”
“I’ll handle it if he does.”
“Another war?” I challenge.
“I won’t let it become that. I promise you, Carrie.”
I believe him. I trust him. “Can we just go back to talking about a kitty and a pooch? Our kitty and pooch?”
“Soon.” He kisses me. “But I have more to say about this situation with your brother, just not here, not now.” He takes my hand. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”
More to say. After all I know about my father now, more can’t be good and that thought has me squeezing Reid’s hand a little tighter and regretting the moment he lets me go to grab our bags off the conveyors. By the time we’re rolling them toward the exit, I come back to us. We’re here, we’re celebrating success and marriage, and I’m not letting my brother blow that.
Once we’re outside, there’s a hired car waiting on us, a limo actually, and I smile at Reid. “A limo?”
“I just proposed, and you said yes. We’re riding in style.”
I laugh. “You didn’t think you were proposing right now, did you?”
“I knew this trip was headed there.”
The driver opens the back door and Reid ushers me into the shelter of the car and the comfort of a cushy leather seat. He follows and soon we’re shut inside with the divider between us and the driver sealed. Reid pulls me close, his fingers tunneling into my hair before he says, “Ever fucked in a limo, baby?” and before I can answer, his mouth closes down on mine and he’s crazy, hot kissing me.
Chapter seventy-one
Carrie
“Well?” Reid challenges, his lips parting mine after a scorching kiss. “Have you ever fucked in a limo?”
“No,” I say, my hand flattening on his really hard and perfect chest, while my sex clenches in denial of my rejection about to follow. “I have not and I’m not starting now. Have you?”
“No,” he says. “Which makes it all the better that I do it with you. The only woman I plan to ever fuck again in this lifetime.” He kisses me and his hand slides under my shirt and over my breast.